Video/sound Card Update Question

I have a custom PC with an ASUS P5N-SLI main board, Intel Core 2 Duo2.13 GHZ, 2 GB DDR2 memory 667 MHZ, Western Digital 250GB SATA 7200, nVidia 7600 GeForce 7600 GS 512MB PCI – Express and a Sony DVD RW AW-Q170A CD drives. My sound card is a Creative Audigy that’s 2 years old. I can’t find the Creative model # right now but its 2 years old and was only aver rage.

I may get Sirius PC radio and have good Boston speakers but they’re 10 years old and wouldn’t mind getting a new pair of Bose type speakers. I’m running Vista Home Premium with 2GB RAM. I will soon upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit and at least 4-6 GB RAM.

I seldom game but what would be a quality video card in a price range of $90 - $130? Also, what would be a quality sound card in the $50 range off NewEgg?

Maybe I should post this on another board but what are a few quality speakers that are similar to my Boston Acoutics? The still sound very good but I would like something better if I get Sirius radio. The Boston’s have served very well for 10 years but I would think the speaker technology today is better.


Thanks for any suggestions!
Mike

This would be my first choice of graphics card, though it's a little higher than you wanted to spend:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121390

Or here is one that's nicely in the price range:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121381

A Creative Audigy is a fine card, but the X-Fi is even better:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-007-_-Product

Thanks for the links! I'll try one of those video cards and the sound card.

Mike

Thanks for the links.

One video card is about $125 more (the ASUS 250 dropped to $86 as of today). I will be spending money on upgrades (Windows 7 64bit, 4-6GB RAM) so I really won't notice it when I pay the good old Master Card but is their a sizeable difference for my camera playback streaming video and some gaiming. I do get about 20Mbps with Charter Cable. It's possible I may do more gaming.

Thanks,
Mike

Yes, you should see a difference.

I received the Asus ENGTS250 video card from NewEgg and plan on installing it Sunday. I neglected to mention that I have ThemalTake Swing case. Will there be any problem fitting the new card in this case? I'll open it and take a look before I break the seal on the card. I would think it will be larger the my current nVidia 7600 GeForce 7600 GS.

Most likely, I don't think I'll have a problem getting the new card in the case but wanted some feed back.

Thanks,
Mike

a Review.

"On the plus side it is considerably shorter than the Geforce 9800GTX, which makes it easier to fit into small cases. "
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2388


Found this.
Dimensions: 4.96" Height x 1.65" Thickness x 8.54" Length

and this.
Dimensions: 5" Height x 9.50" Length

Time to measure your case.

Generally it's only the length you need to worry about - make sure that the back of the card doesn't interfere with any drives, not forgetting to allow room for the cables.

Thanks...sounds like it will fit. I'll measure before I break the seal.

Mike

I'll most likely get the sound card as they are cheap. Currently, my 12 years old Bouson Acoustic Media Theatre speakers which have sounded great over the years are buzzing when I turn up the volume (with no sound) and I hear a buzzing sound. Most likely I suspect the speakers are shot and a new card won't solve the buzzing.

These are Bose size speakers and would like to replace something as good or better. I know Bose are expensive and I don't game. Is their a good brand on newegg that are similar to what I have. I do enjoy quality music sound and don't mind spending more money for great sound!

Thanks,
Mike

If I were to buy a sound card, this is the one I would get.
http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/...ntego-ddl.aspx

Speakers, maybe someone else can help out there.

Thanks...that definitely looks better than the Creative card!

It's only $45.00 on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-006-_-Product

With the main board I listed in this thread, will this fit. I see PCI and PCI express on items and I'm not up on the difference between the 2. From the looks of the card on newegg, it looks like it will fit.

I'll have to listen to some speaker brands to see what my ear likes.

Thanks!
Mike

You do have 2 PCI Slots. Your mobo manual will show you where they are at.
This graphic may help out too.
Newegg to the rescue again I see. :D
Creative cards have a bad squeal in them that I hear and hate. Yes, my hearing is something else.


http://www.darkwire.com.au/assets/im...press-card.jpg

Thanks for the info...that was helpful! I also emailed Turtle Beach with my main board and they will email back if it's compatible which I'm sure it is.

Thanks,
Mike

I installed the ENGTS250 nVidia card and the drivers off the CD. I see now improvement whatsoever. If I gamed, maybe I could see the difference. The streaming video is the same. This card is about twice the size of the GeForce 7600GS I had...I thought I'd notice some improvement.

I guess it's a mute point as after the 1st of the year I'm doing like many people are...buying a MAC.

I'm using the Bose Companion 3 speaker system and am very happy with it. Comes with a "hockey puck" controller for volume/mute, mike and headphone jack....very convenient....GREAT sound, but you'll be paying around 250 buckaroos for it.

That's a little more than I want to pay as I'd rather the money towards my TV sound system. I saw some Logitech speakers on Amazon for $149. They seem to sound good in the PC store and they usually match Newegg.

My Boston Acoustics were great for 10 years and look like Bose but I don't think they make PC speakers anymore.

Thanks,
Mike

Run through the home theater.
http://www.bostonacoustics.com/Home-...eakers-C2.aspx

Sticker shock though.

The ASUS ENGTS250/DI/512MD3/WW GeForce is worse than my original and I had the PC shop install it with the latest drivers due to lack of time. Even my native ViewSonic's HD 1680X1050 resolution is worse but that's too small for me to read.

The PC shop said 'maybe' Windows 7 might look better but they know me and weren’t putting the hard sell on me. I'm leery to jump up to the ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/768MD5 GeForce GTX 460.

I guess my options are to reinstall the old nvidia 7600, upgrade to 7 which I do plan on doing or going with ATI.

I don't understand why HDTVs look great and easy to watch but high resolution monitor have extemely small text, etc. at their native resolutions. Also, the text gets really wide. Maybe they have better monitors like the iMac now as my ViewSonic is about 3-4 years old.

Mike